Will IE7 will boost Firefox take-up?

Windows 2000 users won't be able to use Internet Explorer 7, and the Mozilla Foundation wants to take advantage of that fact when they roll out Firefox version 1.1, due out for release this month. Windows 2000 is still heavily used by business users, who will likely find the new features in IE 7 desirable, but will be unable to use them. Mozilla wants to offer similar features in Firefox version 1.1, which of course will be Windows 2000 compatible. The new Firefox will include a range of features to encourage companies to migrate to the open source browser, including an auto-update and preference locking feature.

"We have high hopes that we'll do better and better in [the enterprise] space with Windows 2000 users," said Asa Dotzler, the community coordinator at the Mozilla Foundation. "We're excited about Microsoft launching IE7  it will remind a lot of people that if they want better features they have to spend hundreds of dollars upgrading [to Windows XP]."